District Court Judges are attorneys elected for each district in non-partisan elections for four years and must reside in the district in which they are elected. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina designates one of the judges as Chief District Court Judge, and this judge has administrative duties, including assigning the judges to sessions of court.

Both civil and criminal cases are heard in District Court. The civil district court handles matters dealing with domestic issues such as custody, child support, equitable distribution and divorce actions. For the trial of all civil actions in which the amount in controversy is $25,000 or less district court would be the proper division. Domestic relations cases involving alimony, child support, child custody, divorce, equitable distribution, and juvenile matters are also heard in this court. In criminal cases, District Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases and most traffic offenses.

Our district court judges, their respective counties of residence, and brief biographical information is as follows:

Judge Hardison was elected to the bench in 1990, and was thereafter re-elected to four year terms in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. He received his undergraduate degree and his law degree from North Carolina Central University. Prior to serving on the bench, Judge Hardison was in private practice in Onslow County from 1984 until 1990 and was elected to the Onslow County Board of Education. He was appointed Chief District Court Judge for the Fourth Judicial District in 2014 by Chief Justice Mark Martin after the retirement of former Chief Judge Leonard W. Thagard.

The Honorable W. M. "Mac" Cameron, III, Onslow County

Judge Cameron was appointed to the bench in 1994, and was elected to four year terms in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. He received his undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University and his law degree from the Campbell University. He is a former president of the North Carolina Association of District Court Judges and currently serves on the North Carolina Judicial Council. Prior to serving on the bench, he was in private practice in Onslow County from 1980 until 1994. Judge Cameron's father, William M. “Bill” Cameron, Jr., previously served on the District Court bench.

The Honorable Louis F. Foy, Jr., Jones County

Judge Foy was appointed to the bench in 1995, and was elected to four year terms in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012. He received his undergraduate degree from Clemson University and his law degree from the University of South Carolina. Prior to serving on the bench, he was in private practice in Jones County from 1973 until 1995. Judge Foy retired as a Colonel in the North Carolina Army National Guard.

The Honorable Sarah C. Seaton, Onslow County

Judge Seaton was appointed to the bench in 1999, and was elected to four year terms in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. She received her undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University and her law degree from the Campbell University. Prior to serving on the bench, Judge Seaton served as an assistant district attorney in Onslow County from 1986 until 1999. Judge Seaton's father, Robert Cowan, was appointed by John F. Kennedy as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina in 1960.

The Honorable Carol Wilson Jones, Duplin County

Judge Jones was elected to the bench for four year terms in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her law degree from North Carolina Central University. Prior to serving on the bench, Judge Jones was an assistant district attorney in the Fourth Judicial District from 1994 until 2000.

The Honorable Henry L. Stevens, IV, Duplin County

Judge Stevens was first appointed to the bench in 1999, was again appointed to a newly created district court judge position in 2000, and was elected to four year terms in 2004, 2008, and 2012. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his law degree from Regent University School of Law. Prior to serving on the bench, he was an assistant district attorney in the Fourth Judicial District from 1997 until 1999. Judge Stevens served in combat in the United States Marine Corps in Desert Storm, and was again on active duty in Iraq in 2003 as a member of the N.C. National Guard, where he currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Both Judge Stevens’ father and grandfather previously served as Superior Court Judges.

The Honorable James L. Moore, Jr., Onslow County

Judge Moore was appointed to the bench in 2006, and was elected to four year terms in 2008 and 2012. He received his undergraduate degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his law degree from Campbell University. Prior to serving on the bench, he was in private practice in Onslow County from 1985 until 2006.

The Honorable William B. Sutton, Jr., Sampson County

Judge Sutton was appointed to the bench in 2015. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and his law degree from Campbell University. Prior to serving on the bench, he was in private practice in Sampson County from 1990-2015.

For additional information you may contact the following judicial support staff: